What is LMS?
LMS
LMS (Learning Management System) is a learning management system that supports online learning. They are used in particular by enterprises, organizations, platforms with courses, but also more and more often by universities and schools. LMS enables the employer to manage training materials, access them and verify the acquired knowledge, e.g. by conducting tests. On the other hand, the platform user can take part in selected or assigned training sessions and follow his progress. The focus of the LMS is on course and process management.
LXP – definition
LXP (Learning Experience Platform) is a learning platform whose functionalities focus on the user experience of the system and its comfort, and not on the management of learning as such. Due to the fact that the platform is based on artificial intelligence algorithms , it can adjust training materials to individual users . He does this thanks to the information collected about him, such as the position, department, experience, previous interactions with the system – which courses he completed, which categories he viewed most often, etc., but also the activities undertaken by users similar to him.
The LXP platform sends reminders, notifications and tries to involve the employee in the learning process as much as possible . It is the algorithms that adjust the development path, not the manager. LXP also enables interaction between website users, e.g. recommending content or discussing it. In the case of an AI-based platform, the employer has access to very advanced data. It not only monitors completed courses, but also user behavior – which trainings are most popular, what comments prevail, what employees are looking for, at what times and on what devices they view the collected content.
Different teaching approaches
LMS and LXP represent a different approach to employee training management. The Learning Management System is quite traditional in this respect – it is the employer, individual managers or HR specialists who take care of the learning process. They create courses and assign them to specific users, based on their knowledge and experience, and not necessarily on the interests and aspirations of the employee himself. LMS provides a uniform teaching experience shared by a larger number of people , e.g. all employees of a given department must undergo the same training and have a similar development path in the organization.
Learning Experience Platform puts much more control in the hands of end users. They are responsible for their learning path, choosing the appropriate training according to their preferences. They also gain rights to co-create the platform, e.g. to add valuable content from external sources, evaluate courses or recommend them (or advise against them) to other employees. In this process, employers become mentors and support rather than appoint and take responsibility for the path of employee development.
Main differences between LMS and LXP
LMS and LXP are digital learning platforms that support companies and their employees in expanding their knowledge and skills through the training provided. However, they differ on many levels – from content management to analytics.
The main difference is the role that the end-user plays in the learning process. In the case of LMS, he is the recipient of the content assigned to him top-down, while in LXP he can be their active creator, and his activity has an impact on the courses created in the future.
LMS platforms are characterized by high linearity. Their users know exactly what learning path they will follow, what are their expectations and on what conditions they pass to the next level in the structure. The process is predictable – for students and their supervisors. LXP, on the other hand, focuses on exploring rather than following a designated path. Each user can choose a completely different learning path, which is why the process is more difficult to control if we like hard data and graphs. Here, many activities are not easily measurable or comparable. At the same time, it makes users more involved in the whole process by learning what they are interested in.
Applications of LMS and LXP platforms
LMSs are perfect for training programs with a predicted, linear structure – such as employee onboarding or legal aspects of the functioning of an organization. Corporations and large enterprises employing thousands of people are eagerly using them. LMS platforms help them reduce training costs and easily track the progress of employees.
LXP platforms are often used by corporations in parallel with LMS or as stand-alone systems by companies that focus on innovation and delegating great responsibility to employees. They are perfect for training related to personal development, where it is important to raise the competences selected by the participant. Such training courses include, for example, leadership or HR.
The e-learning market also offers training management systems designed to meet all of the above needs. They are fully flexible, easy to adapt to the specific requirements and goals of LMSs. An example of such a hybrid solution is the Samelane platform. The free demo of the application is now available at: https://samelane.com/pl/zarezerwuj-demo/ .
Employee onboarding
In the case of training that is obligatory for all or more users, LMS platforms will suffice. The knowledge contained therein is necessary for the operation of the organization and the functioning of employees in it. Often these are rules they need to know, such as onboarding courses.
Such training includes training in health and safety, organizational structure, company strategy, procedures (related to the circulation of documents, reporting holidays) or the use of company equipment. In this case, the time savings by using an e-learning platform will be huge. At the same time, its functionalities will adapt to the needs of the onboarding process of a given organization.
